(Re)Make

In recent years, there is clear evidence of the appreciation for games from previous generations by individual gamers and developers alike - as evidenced by the production of new games that are aesthetically and/or ludologically based on these older games. Numerous examples support this claim: games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Wrath of the Mutants and Contra: Operation Galuga bear visual resemblances to their origins, while titles such as Resident Evil 2 Remake or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth feature improved contemporary visuals and game mechanics while preserving the essence of their source materials by utilizing narrative, characters, and revisiting familiar places.

The surge in so-called ‘retro gaming’ can be attributed to Romanticism. This term describes an early nineteenth-century movement in art and literature that saw a renewed interest in human psychology, emotions, and the natural world. For example, novels from this period often idealized the past in contrast to their present time.

To some extent, remakes and remasters romanticize video games. This idealization of the past occurs either through the narrative of the game or the game itself. As video games are interactive mediums rather than books, “this construction of the idealized past is not simply witnessed, but actively created by the act of playing the game” (Bosman, 2023).

Forums frequently discuss why people often remember older games as better than they actually were. While many answers are unscientific, there is actual science behind it - both physiological and technical.

The physiological explanation lies in nostalgia, a term that originated 400 years ago from Swiss physicians, referring to homesickness. They believed that nostalgia was a mental illness caused by longing for past lives. Engaging with nostalgia often makes us feel better and happier. However, how accurate are those memories? Research suggests that we tend to be biased towards remembering things that make us happy. This bias occurs because it requires less information to confirm beliefs when they are consistent with our desired state of mind.

CRT vs. LED/LCD

From a technical perspective, CRT displays provide an answer. In the '90s and early 2000s, CRT displays were the most commonly used. Sales of CRT computer monitors peaked in 2000, while sales of CRT TVs peaked in 2005 worldwide. A CRT panel differs greatly from an LED/LCD panel, and recent research suggests that CRT displays produce softer images compared to LED/LCD panels.

Therefore, our recollection of older games looking better is quite accurate. Playing the same game on modern but not intended hardware can cause the graphics to degrade on some levels.